IPhone 8 may get rear 3D laser for better augmented reality

As it turns out, augmented reality may be the signature feature of the iPhone 8. These details and many others have come from "a source with knowledge of the situation", according to the news site.

In the case of the iPhone 8, Fast Company's source suggests Apple will use what's called a VCSEL laser system, which costs about $2 per phone: It can calculate the distance that light travels from the source of the laser, to the target, and back to the sensor. While some analysts anticipate that the device will arrive in stores sometime in late September, the most recent whispers from the rumor mill are pointing towards a release sometime in mid-late October.

The analysts believe that it will be hard for Apple to lure iPhone users to upgrade their devices if it depends exclusively on enhanced screen quality.

Apple stock was up over 1% in midday trading.

Apple engineers are working to bring 3D laser to the iPhone 8, but if they fail to achieve it before the device's release, it could be postponed for the next version of the iPhone.

But the iPhone 8 will need some really desirable features to justify that price.

On Wednesday, a source who has information on Apple's plans for the iPhone 8 disclosed to Fast Company that the handset will feature a 3D laser system alongside its back camera module. Apple is expected to remove the physical home button on the iPhone 8 and embed the fingerprint sensor underneath the display. A 3D sensor on the front-facing camera will likely also be included in the next model and will be used for selfie effects and facial recognition. The smartphone is widely expected to come with a TrueTone OLED display with a screen to body ratio even better than that of the Samsung Galaxy S8. The price of the new iPhone 8 will be around $1000 to $1200.

A new report suggests that a future iPhone may come equipped with a laser system for depth sensing-and it's nowhere near as insane an idea as it might sound.